The federal government plans to double the amount of wireless capacity available to mobile devices over the next decade (and take away spectrum from broadcasters). This is largely because more people play Doodle Jump than watch most prime time television shows. Also in today’s App Industry Roundup, Google’s Nexus One goes Froyo.
Broadcasters have most to lose in wireless expansion
Since the advent of the commercial Internet a decade and half ago, most consumers have gradually watched less television in favor of emerging interactive media. The mobile media revolution – where information over wireless networks grows at a rate of more than 250 percent per year – is only accelerating this massive transition.
Recognizing a permanent shift in media consumption patterns, President Obama this week signed off on a memorandum that would double the amount of wireless spectrum available to carriers over the next decade. The proposed 500 megahertz of spectrum the federal government plans to allocate would come out of the diminishing pool currently controlled by broadcasters.
“Spectrum is the oxygen of wireless, and the future of our mobile economy depends on spectrum recovery and smart spectrum policies,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.
Apple selling nearly two million iPhone 4s in three days and consumers downloading games like Doodle Jump more than five million times are no longer eye opening events. Rather, these statistics are just snapshots of where things are and appetizers of where we are headed.
If wherever you go coverage of the 2010 World Cup is already motivating soccer fans to download MobiTV more than a million times, just imagine what the media landscape will look like when FIFA reconvenes in Brazil in 2014.
Apps are where the ball is headed. The goal of the government should be to create space for the charge ahead.
Nexus One gets Froyo update
Owners of Google’s Nexus One smartphone today will be able to update their devices with the new Android 2.2 mobile operating software.
Nicknamed “Froyo”, the new mobile platform will support Adobe Flash and turn your Nexus One (and eventually other Android devices) into a portable hotspot. Learn about additional features at the Android developer blog.
